The 49ers are where the Raiders were three years ago – drastically undermanned, in the midst of unrelenting losing, and with Fort Knox-like money under the salary cap. Obviously, the 10-2 Raiders have made the right moves in hiring coach Jack Del Rio, drafting players like Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and acquiring players like …

After Alex Smith lost a fumble late in the second quarter Sunday, it sure felt like the same old guy would be rearing his head in the second half.

Smith had played fairly well in the season’s first three games, but there was a sense he was being protected. You know, Jim Harbaugh was bringing him along slowly — checkdowns, handoffs, checkdowns, handoffs — as if he was afraid that Smith might combust if asked to perform higher-degree-of-difficulty tasks.

When 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers boarded the flight home after the team’s 24-23 win Sunday in Philadelphia, he was surprised to see Jim Harbaugh following him.
Typically, head coaches are ensconced in first class with the rest of the team brass on … …

Here’s a transcript from today from 49ers running back Frank Gore, who talks about his faith in the coaching staff, the “new” Niners and quarterback Alex Smith.

Again, thanks to the Associated Press’ Janie McCauley (@JanieMcCAP on Twitter) and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat’s Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) for providing transcripts while I traveled home from Philadelphia:

So, I just touched down in rain-soaked Oakland (or is this Youngstown?) and was greeted by e-mailed transcripts from 49ers players provided by brilliant and generous beat writers Janie McCauley (Associated Press) and Grant Cohn (of the great Santa Rosa Press Democrat)! The duo was among other writers in Santa Clara today in the afterglow of the 49ers’ 24-23 comeback win in Philadelphia.

Here’s Niners cornerback Carlos Rogers, who says, among other things, that his new team has a distinctly un-Redskins vibe, right down to the head coach hanging with the players on the victory flight home:

Philadelphia — With his team trailing by 17 points and looking hopelessly outmatched, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said he delivered a simple halftime message Sunday:
“It was, we just need to play a little bit better,” Harbaugh said. “We just need t… …

Philadelphia — – As most of the 49ers jumped and hollered and thrust fists into the air, Alex Smith walked calmly toward the line of scrimmage, beckoning his teammates to return for a perfunctory kneel-down that would finish the franchise’s most signi… …

What brilliant halftime adjustments did the 49ers make to erase a 20-point third-quarter deficit and secure a 24-23 victory Sunday over the Eagles?
None.
The coaching staff refused to ditch its game plan. Instead, the team made a few minor adjustments… …

Philadelphia —
It wasn’t by design, but it couldn’t have worked much better.
Hobbled by an ankle injury, running back Frank Gore didn’t start the 49ers’ 24-23 win over the Eagles on Sunday. In fact, he had only seven carries in the first three quarte… …

Game review
Offense
MWho didn’t see that coming? The 49ers’ 442 total yards nearly doubled their previous best (226, the previous Sunday) and they ripped off 21 second-half points after managing 16 in their previous seven quarters. QB Alex Smith was … …

Philadelphia —
On the heels of a wretched performance in a preseason loss to the Texans, left tackle Joe Staley said he was “disgusted” by the play of the 49ers’ offensive line.
Adam Snyder? The usually media-friendly lineman declined to speak with r… …